Honor Blackman, who played Bond Girl Pussy Galore and starred in 'The Avengers', dies aged 94
Honor Blackman, best known for playing Bond girl Pussy Galore in 'Goldfinger,' has passed away from causes unrelated to the novel coronavirus. She was 94.
Blackman passed away from natural causes and death was confirmed in a statement from her family, who described her as a "much-adored mother and grandmother" who "achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment."
"It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman aged 94," they said in a statement to the Guardian. "She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family. She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive, and Toby."
"As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavors she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times," it added.
Besides Pussy Galore, Blackman was also known for playing the role of Cathy Gale in 'The Avengers' (1962-1964), Julia Daggett in 'Shalako' (1968) and Hera in 'Jason and the Argonauts' (1963), as well as Laura West in the ITV sitcom 'The Upper Hand' (1990–1996).
Blackman was born to a civil service statistician father and started acting when she was gifted lessons for her 15th birthday. She then started training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1940, during which she also worked as a clerical assistant for the Home Office.
Her career in the entertainment industry eventually spanned eight decades and included appearances in theatrical productions such as 'The Sound of Music,' 'My Fair Lady,' and 'Cabaret.'
In recent years, she had been touring and performing in her show 'Honor Blackman,' as herself. Her family said the show looked back over "her astonishing life, her beginnings, her family, and her rise to stardom with her usual sense of humor and perspective."
They also said she kept herself up-to-date with all the current affairs and that she was "an avid reader of news and politics."
Blackman had a famously fierce personality and had always insisted that Pussy was not a "bimbo," telling TV Times in 2014, "In so many of the films, the girls just looked at James and fell flat on their backs."
"Yet Pussy Galore was a career woman – a pilot who had her own air force, which was very impressive. She was never a bimbo. Pussy’s flying a plane, so she’s got to be a strong feminist, but then she collapses into Bond’s arms at the end."
"Deary me. Unfortunately, women do that. We’re good at our jobs, but if we fall in love, we’re a bit stupid," she added.
She had been married twice, first to Bill Sankey from 1948 to 1956, and then to British actor Maurice Kaufmann from 1961 to 1975. She adopted two children, Lottie (1967) and Barnaby (1968), with the latter.
Since her divorce from Kaufmann almost five decades ago, she has not remarried and said repeatedly that she preferred being single.